Why does it need doing?

Because the lubricant inside the air can gets dirty and dries out, and the seals and O-rings wear. When that happens, the shock loses its smooth feel and starts chewing through the bushings, which is far more expensive wear to repair.

How often is it done?

As a reference, RockShox specifies ~50 h for the air can service, in line with the fork lower leg service. The real hours depend on use and conditions; it is worth bringing it forward in dust or mud.

Suspension & dropper cluster · Maintenance

Rear shock air can service

Q: What is the air can service?

It is the rear shock equivalent of the fork lower leg service. The air can is removed, the seals and O-rings are replaced and fresh lubricant is added. It restores the smooth feel and prevents wear of the bushings. The reference interval for RockShox is ~50 h.

Quick answer

The air can service is the rear shock equivalent of the fork lower leg service (RockShox specifies ~50 h). The air can is removed, the seals and O-rings are replaced and fresh lubricant is added. It restores the shock's smooth feel and prevents bushing wear. See how often each service is due; and if the shock loses air, that points to something else.

It is the rear shock's frequent maintenance: the back-end sibling of the lower leg service. Cheap compared with letting it chew through the bushings.

What it involves, step by step

1 · Remove the air can — The pressure is released and the air can is unscrewed from the shock body. This is the access to the seals, the O-rings and the lubricant.

2 · Seals and O-rings — The seals and O-rings that seal the air chamber are replaced. These are the parts that wear and stop sealing properly as the hours add up.

3 · Fresh lubricant — The inside is cleaned and fresh lubricant is added before reassembling the air can. That restores the smooth feel and protects the bushings from friction.

Anatomy of the rear shock: air can, seals, O-rings, bushings and lubricant — Where the seals and lubricant live: inside the air can.

Why it matters

The air can holds the air chamber and the lubricant that keeps the shock smooth. As the hours add up, that lubricant gets dirty and dries out, and the seals and O-rings lose their seal. The result is a shock that feels dry and harsh and starts wearing the bushings through friction.

That is why it is a frequent, relatively low-cost service: doing it on time keeps the smooth feel and stops wear from reaching more expensive parts of the shock.

Common mistake: treating the rear shock as if it needed no maintenance because "you can't see it". The air can needs servicing on the same hours as the fork lowers; skipping it is what ends up chewing through the bushings.

Is the air can service due?

Tell us your shock model and the hours you've run and we'll tell you if it's time. Message us on WhatsApp

Frequently asked questions

What is the air can service?

The rear shock's frequent service, equivalent to the fork lower leg service: the air can is removed, the seals and O-rings are replaced and fresh lubricant is added.

Why do it?

The lubricant dries out and the seals wear; without service, the shock chews through the bushings.

How often?

RockShox specifies ~50 h; bring it forward in dust or mud.

How often the service → Losing air → Suspension & dropper cluster →

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BikeLab-pedia · Suspension & dropper cluster / Bicycle compatibility and standards / Carlos Eduardo Ravello Joo · BikeLab Studio · Trujillo, Peru